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| Thursday, August 3, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Desilting brings relief Ex-minister booked in graft case The economics of petrol pump fraud 3 get life imprisonment
in dowry death case Student pays for fake certificate Rohtak included in income tax scheme Women’s awareness
camp held
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WJC speeds up work
on lining streams Haryana sets up panel
on ST-38 form 20 students
fall ill after drinking milk BJP delegation
meets PM Bangar sworn in as
HPSC head Haryana to open
academy in HAU Sonepat spruced up for CM’s visit DHBVN
takes steps to check power thefts
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Desilting brings relief KAITHAL: Desilting of the Manas and Sillakhera link drains here has provided much-needed relief to residents. The drains had not been cleaned during the past few years and were badly choked. It was feared that if there were floods many localities would have been affected. Floods had played havoc in 1993 due to a breach in the Manas drain. The gravity of the situation was highlighted by The Tribune and Dainik Tribune. The matter was also brought to the notice of the Commissioner, Ambala Division, Mr Chander Singh, and the Deputy Commissioner, Dr Mahavir Singh, who not only geared up the Public Health authorities but also took steps to ensure the allocation of adequate government funds for the desilting work. According to the policy of the state government, drains originating in and passing through the town are to be cleaned by the Public Health Department, though these were built by the Irrigation Department. Both drains carry sullage to the Kaithal drain. Initially, the work looked difficult as the Public Health Department did not have the required resources. After getting directions from the authorities concerned, the department drew up a plan to get the work done expeditiously. Machines were deployed to complete the task. According to Dr Mahavir Singh, estimates were got approved within 15 days and 19,500 ft of the Manas drain and 9,300 ft of the Sillakhera drain were got cleaned within three weeks. Following the desilting work, the pressure on nullahs in the town has decreased considerably. Residents of many localities, including the Dhand Road area, Radhaswami Colony, the Khurana road area, the Sirta road area, Arjun Nagar, Rishi Nagar, Adarsh Nagar, the Dogran Gate area and parts of the Chandana gate area have heaved a sigh of relief. Accumulated water in Andhan and the tank near Gurdwara Neem Sahib has now started flowing into these drains. Residents have demanded the desilting of these drains before the beginning of the monsoon every year. Heaps of silt and sullage removed from the Manas drain in Kaithal town. |
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Ex-minister booked in graft case KAITHAL, Aug 2 — Former Haryana Finance Minister, Charan Dass Shorewala, and local treasury officer S.D. Vidyarthi has been booked by the local police under Sections 13(1) (D) (III) and 420, IPC, for their alleged involvement in the irregularities in recruiting 12 Class IV employees at the local treasury office in September 1998 by ignoring the rules. According to information, a case has been registered following a report submitted by SDM, Kaithal, Mr Ashok Bishnoi, on July 28 to the Deputy Commissioner, Kaithal, alleging irregularities in the recruitment of 12 Class IV employees. The official making the inquiry pointed that in September ‘98 five posts of Class IV employees were vacant and to fill the posts the then Treasury Officer, Mr S.D. Vidyarthi, called suitable candidates from the local employment exchange. Consequently the employment office sent a list of 44 candidates to the treasury office and asked them to appear for interview before the said official. The said official selected one candidate of the 44 candidates against five vacant posts. The treasury officer had earlier sought permission from the Special Secretary, Finance, to fill five posts and he had mentioned in the letter that the then Finance Minister had directed him to fill these posts, following which the Finance Minister accorded its consent vide letter dated Aug 19, 1998, to fill the posts. It has also been mentioned in the FIR that keeping all norms at bay the treasury officer also gave an advertisement in two local papers and invited applications to fill the posts. Following the advertisement, 332 candidates applied for these posts and the treasury officer, who headed the selection committee, selected 11 candidates. It has also been mentioned in the FIR that to create more vacancies in the local treasury office, the District Treasury Officer had sought the consent of the higher authorities to transfer three employees to far-off places. Even after these transfers, eight posts were lying vacant and subsequently for more posts were created by transferring four more employees between October ‘98 and February ‘99 which were subsequently filled. The FIR said these appointments seemed to have been made under pressure of the former Finance Minister after ignoring relevant rules. The Superintendent of Police, Mr Prabhat Ranjan Deo, said the Deputy Commissioner entrusted the inquiry to the SDM, Mr A.K. Bishnoi, following revelations made by a paper and the DSP, Headquarters, Mr Amir Singh Sabarwal, had been asked to investigate the case. Meanwhile, the local municipal council has also issued a notice to Mr Shorewala and his two sons Anil and Arun informing that they had constructed a house in 3,728 sq yards against the sanctioned plan of 976 sq. yards. Moreover, they failed to deposit development charges on the balance area of 2,752 sq yards. The municipal council issued them a show-cause notice in this regard and to demolish the illegally constructed portion within 15 days. The notice was issued under Sections 209/208 of the Municipal Act. On the other hand the local PWD authorities estimated the cost of the minister’s house constructed on the Ambala road here at Rs 1.13 crore. Similarly, the Municipal Council, Kaithal, has issued another notice to Mrs Bhagwanti, wife of Mr Shorewala and Dharam Parkash, who is their partner in other immovable properties, pointing out that construction had been done on 700 sq yards at Jakholi Adda, Kaithal, without prior sanction of the council. According to information, some more cases have come to the notice of the police team wherein the members of the family of the former minister have acquired other immovable properties. |
The economics of petrol pump fraud HISAR, Aug 2 — What makes petrol pumps such an attractive proposition despite their economics suggesting they are a loss-making enterprise? Obviously there is more to the business than meets the eye. First the economics. As per the existing norms, most oil companies require applicants possess a minimum of two acres of land on either side of national and state highways with a frontage of at least 180 feet. While the actual price of land depends on its location, on an average a plot of these dimensions does not cost less than Rs 15 lakh anywhere in Haryana The modern building, including the office block and public utilities prescribed by the companies cost another Rs 35 to 40 lakh. The pump owner also requires at least Rs 15 to 20 lakh as running capital adding up to anything between Rs 60 to 75 lakh. This does not include the unofficial cost of obtaining a licence from the oil company which trade sources say ranges between Rs 25 to 30 lakh. Thus, for all practical purposes, setting up a petrol pump entails an outlay of at least Rs 1 crore. It can be higher if the petrol pump is located inside a city as the cost of land will be substantially higher. The minimum interest on this amount comes to Rs 1.5 lakh per month at the rate of 18 per cent per annum. According to official sources, the commission on sale of petrol and diesel is 42 and 25 paise a litre, respectively. Inquiries made by The Tribune reveal that some of the busiest outlets in the state do not sell more than 10,000 litres of petrol and an equal quantity of diesel per day. Even after taking into account the sales of other products like engine oil, the commission comes to just Rs 2.25 lakh, leaving the owner Rs 75,000 after deducting the interest on capital. Generally, a busy petrol pump employs at least eight to 10 attendants to operate the pumps, which means a salary bill of at least Rs 30,000 a month for them alone. Electricity bills, bank charges, office expenses, maintenance and handling losses run up to Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000. That leaves the owner a measly Rs 15,000 a month as profit. Insiders say based on commission alone even the busiest of pumps would run up losses. Interestingly, inquiries show that most owners of busy petrol pumps charge a hefty sum from the attendants instead of paying them salaries. In return tampering with meters and other malpractices are left to the attendants, who hand over to the owners the proceeds of the day’s sales according to the actual sales plus a mutually agreed amount on a monthly basis depending upon the volume of sales. This practice ensures that the team of attendants does not short change the owner. As expected its customer who pays more for less and adulterated fuel. The team’s eventual earnings depend on its “efficiency” and “dexterity”. It is learnt that the earnings from malpractices are shared in a ratio of 10:90 in favour of the owner. Consumers are generally duped in two ways. The first is by tampering with metres. Trade sources reveal that even the popular outlets deliver only 900 to 950 ml instead of a litre, ensuring an average profit of Rs 2 a litre. The other revenue earner is adulteration. Industrial solvent (commonly known as crude petrol) is mixed with petrol. The price difference between a 10,000-litre tanker of solvent and petrol is between Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000. Sources say a pump owner mixing two tankers of solvent with petrol in a month is generally perceived as very honest. These two tankers net him an income of Rs 1.20 lakh a month. Contrary to popular belief, adulteration is not done under cover of darkness. Instead tankers containing solvent are always emptied into the tanks during the busiest hours. The owners also make a neat pile from consumers buying petrol in terms of rupees rather than liters as this allows for further short changing. Two-wheeler owners are the biggest victims as the amount of engine oil added is substantially less than the value charged. Engine oil costs four to five times more than petrol. The combined earnings from short measuring and adulteration of a pump retailing 10,000 litres of petrol a day come to a whopping Rs 7 to 8 lakh a month. Even after taking into account all official and unofficial expenses the profit is over Rs 5 lakh a month, enabling the owner to recover their investment in less than two years. It is learnt that deals for allotment of pumps are fixed even before the companies advertise possible sites. The companies then ensure that they advertise only for specific sites already owned by their favourites. A reputed oil company recently advertised for 15 sites on state and national highways in Haryana. Of these 10 sites were concentrated in a two to 30-km radius. No senior official of any of the major oil companies which have depots here agreed to speak to The Tribune and neither denied nor confirmed reports of deals in allotments of pumps, adulteration, and short measuring. They refused to divulge what steps were taken to check the malpractices either. |
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3 get life imprisonment
in dowry death case ROHTAK, Aug 2 — The District and Sessions Judge, Mr R.S. Madan, has sentenced three persons to life imprisonment in connection with a dowry death at Qabulpur village in December ,1996. In the judgement delivered yesterday, the judge held the accused Ramesh Kumar (husband) and Vishnu Dutt and Rajender Prasad (both elder brothers of Ramesh) of Qabulpur village guilty of eliminating four-month pregnant Salochna. Besides the life imprisonment, all three accused were ordered to pay a fine of Rs 500 each and in case of default of payment of fine they would further undergo rigorous imprisonment for three months under Section 304-B of the IPC. The judge also sentenced them to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three years. They were ordered to pay a fine of Rs 200 each and in case of default of payment of find they would undergo rigorous
imprisonment for two months under Section 498-A of the IPC. Both sentences would run concurrently. The complainant, Kirorimal of Balambha village in this connection had lodged an FIR on December 13, 1996. He said his daughter Salochna got married to Ramesh on May 31, 1993, at Qabulpur village. He said he had spent nearly Rs 3 lakh on the marriage. However, Salochna informed her parents that her in-laws had been demanding another sum of Rs 2 lakh for starting a business. She also told them that her in-laws had threatened her of dire consequences if she failed to do so. When Salochna came to her parents house to attend the marriage of her brother Dhanraj in June, 1996, she apprehended serious danger to her life from her in-laws as the amount
coudnot be fulfilled. Salochna was set afire on December 13, 1996, by her husband and brother-in-laws. Receiving the information, parents of the dowry victim reached the village and found the charred body of Salochna in the upper part of the house. They got suspicious when they found that no household articles in the room had been affected in the fire and lodged an FIR. According to the doctors’ report Salochna received 75 per cent burns. But the report categorically stated that the cause of death was asphyxia due to strangulation and she was later set ablaze. While pronouncing the judgement, the judge observed, “I am of the view that in order to fulfil their greed and hunger for the additional dowry of Rs 2 lakh the accused have crossed all limits of humanity.” |
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Student pays for fake certificate ROHTAK, Aug 2 — The Maharshi Dayanand University administration recently cancelled the candidature of a student of Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) of Sri Baba Mast Nath Educational Institute on the charge of getting admission by producing fake certificates. Usha, a student of final prof of BAMS and daughter of a former Secretary of the institute, was charged with producing a bogus certificate of intermediate class of the Bihar Intermediate Education Board. The university administration has recommended the registration of an FIR against the student and the Principal of Sri Baba Mast Nath Ayurvedic College on the charge of conniving with the “erring” student. A special team of the university visited Patna nearly 8 months ago to inquire into the genuineness of the certificate of the candidate after it received a complaint in this connection. The team reportedly found that the registration number and the roll number of the candidate were genuine but she did not appear in any paper. However, the detailed marksheet of the candidate sent to the university by the Principal of the college concerned at the time of her admission showed that she had secured first division in the examination. The inquiry into this case started during the tenure of the then Vice-Chancellor, Lt-Gen (retd) O.P. Kaushik, when his relation became sour with the management of the institute in connection with the discontinuation of affiliation to the institute. The bitterness of relations between the two went to the extent of a litigation. However, after a fierce confrontation which continued for several months, the university administration and the management of the institute softened their stands and the investigation into the alleged fake certificates of the daughter of the then Secretary of the institute was withheld. The new Vice-Chancellor, Maj-Gen (retd) Bhim Singh Suhag, reopned the case and ordered strict action against the student and the Principal. However, the university authorities have failed to answer why an inquiry was initiated into the verification of certificates of only a single candidate while many such candidates are pursuing or have completed various courses by producing “doubtful” certificates of the same board.” |
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Rohtak included in income tax scheme ROHTAK, Aug 2 — For widening its tax base, the Income Tax Department has also included Rohtak under the new 1/6 scheme that was hitherto applicable in Faridabad and Gurgaon towns. Under the 1/6 scheme all persons whose income is below the taxable limit of Rs 50,000 will also file income tax returns on form No 2C. The scheme applies to those persons who occupy immovable residential property exceeding 1,500 sq feet or commercial property exceeding 225 sq feet in floor area by way of ownership, tenancy or otherwise. Persons owning a telephone and vehicle, other than two-wheelers, are also covered under the new scheme. The Commissioner of Income Tax, Mr S.N. Prasad, said here that the scheme had been enforced here from August 1. Persons holding credit cards issued by any bank or financial institution and incurring expenditure for himself or any other person on travel to any foreign country and members of a club where entrance fee charges were Rs 25,000 would also be required to file returns on form 2C. The Rohtak charge comprises Rohtak, Jhajjar, Sonepat, Panipat, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Bhiwani, Mahendergarh and Rewari districts. Mr Prasad stated that the Income Tax Department had collected a revenue of Rs 115.07 crore till July 31 during the current financial year. The number of income tax assessees has also increased from 97,558 on March 31, 1996, to 2,37,627 till March 31 in the districts under Rohtak charge. He has appealed to industrialists and businessmen who have their industries and business places in Haryana, particularly in Rohtak, Gurgaon, Faridabad and Bahadurgarh, to file their returns. He said in order to facilitate the assessees in paying taxes all computerised nationalised banks would accept the payment from August 1. The new banks authorised to collect income tax at Rohtak are Vijaya Bank and Corporation Bank. |
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Women’s awareness
camp held HISAR, Aug 2 — A women’s awareness camp was organised yesterday at Landhri village, near here. Addressing the participants, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mr Balraj Mor, who was the chief guest, said awareness among women was a must for the overall development of society. He said no country could prosper without the active participation of women. The government had introduced many welfare schemes for poor and illiterate women, Mr Mor said. He appealed to the participants to get their children vaccinated against dreaded diseases. The Child Development Project Officer, Ms Santosh Kataria, gave information about various welfare schemes, such as the National Maternity Scheme, the Apni-Beti Apna-Dhan Scheme and the Bal Samridhi Yojna. Ms Kataria said three such camps had been organised at Fransee, Kuleri and Agroha villages.
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WJC speeds up work
on lining streams SONEPAT, Aug 2 — The Western Jamuna Canal (WJC) Command Lining Division is making concerted efforts to speed up the lining of watercourses in the district. According to official sources, the work for the lining of 22 watercourses has been completed and is going on in 20 other watercourses. The WJC project, Phase I, sanctioned by the Ministry of Water Resources, New Delhi, has covered an area of 3,706 hectares in Ganaur, Gohana and Sonepat blocks in the district and an expenditure of Rs 98.60 lakh has already been incurred to achieve the goal. As many as 2,105 shareholders have been benefited as the water reaches farmers’ fields at tail reaches. The sources also reveal that the watercourses are being lined by the Central and state governments free of cost. Subsidy is also being provided for the maintenance of the watercourses at 90 per cent of its cost. The watercourses are being maintained by the water users association registered under the Registrar Firms and Societies, Haryana. Meanwhile, a new WJC project, Phase III, has been sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Water Resources for the construction of 20 field channels to be constructed at a cost of Rs 19.56 crore. |
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Haryana sets up panel CHANDIGARH, Aug 2 — A nine-member committee of traders of Haryana has been constituted under the chairmanship of Mr Niranjan Lal Bansal, president of the ruling Indian National Lok Dal vyapar cell and Chairman of the Haryana Warehousing Corporation, to give suggestions to the state government on the issue of the controversial ST-38 form (popularly known as transit challan). The committee was constituted after a meeting between the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, and representatives of various trade associations here today. The committee, which will also suggest methods to remove bottlenecks in the taxation system, will submit its report by August 7, two days before the proposed Haryana bandh, the call for which has been given by the two factions of the Haryana Beopar Mandal. The August 9 bandh has also been supported by the president of the Haryana Congress, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda. In an obvious move to frustrate the bandh, Mr Chautala held a meeting with representatives of various trade associations, excluding the two beopar mandals, here today. |
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20 students
fall ill after drinking milk ROHTAK, Aug 2 — About 20 students of a residential school at Kalanaur, 20 km from here, were admitted to the PGIMS here when they complained of vomitting and dizziness just after consuming milk today. According to information, the students from class IV to VIII of Ved Model Higher Secondary School started vomitting when they took stale milk. The school authorities rushed to the PGIMS. The police took the samples of milk and sent them for testing. A case has been registered. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rajesh Khullar, has left for Kalanaur for investigations. When contacted, Dr S.B. Siwach, Director, PGIMS, said it was to early to identify the poisonous substance in the milk. However, he said, all students were out of danger and were discharged in the evening. |
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BJP delegation
meets PM ROHTAK, Aug 2 — A delegation of the state unit of the BJP led by its president, Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, today met the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, in Delhi and apprised him of the political situation in the region. Mr Gulshan Bhatia, state office secretary, said here today the delegation urged the Prime Minsiter to settle the SYL canal dispute in line with Cauvery waters dispute. He said Mr Vajpayee decided to chalk out an action plan with the help of office-bearers of the state unit to let the people know about various schemes in the fields of agriculture, education, industry etc. Besides, it was also resolved that the people living below the poverty line would be made aware of the insurance policy concerned. |
Bangar sworn in as
HPSC head CHANDIGARH, Aug 2 — The Haryana Governor, Babu Parmanand, today administered the oath of office and secrecy to Dr Krishan Chander Bangar as Chairman of the Haryana Public Service Commission at a function held at Haryana Raj Bhavan. Hailing from Kohla village in Sonepat district, Mr Bangar is an agriculture engineer. He has been a brilliant student of CCS Agriculture University, Hisar, and remained associated with it as an agriculture professor and scientist for more than 18 years. Dr Bangar (43) got his Ph.D. degree in the field of soil microbiology from the University of Reading and the Rothamsted Experimental Station in the UK. He worked as a visiting scientist at Chiba University in Japan. He has also authored 50 research papers of international standard in different reputed journals. Dr Bangar was also appointed Science and Technical Adviser to the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, in 1999. Later he was appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar, and worked as acting Vice-Chancellor of the university. |
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Haryana to open
academy in HAU HISAR, Aug 2 — Haryana Government has decided to open a sports academy in the Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) here to boost sports activities in the region. This was announced by Mr Abhey Singh Chautala, president of Haryana Olympic Association, while inaugurating the 29th Haryana State Handball Championship for men and women here today. This championship is being organised by the Haryana Agricultural University in the memory of Kargil martyr, Mr Sukhbir Singh Yadav, an ex-student of the university. Mr Chautala disclosed that proposed academy would be the best in the northern region. He said 10 sports academies would be estasblished in the state in the near future but the HAU academy will be the best academy for which Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Union Sports Minister had already accepted the proposal.
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Sonepat spruced up for CM’s visit SONEPAT, Aug 2 — The ensuing visit of Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister, to this city on August 9 next, has come as a boon to local residents. The city is being given a facelift. Roads are being repaired, roundabouts painted, pavements cleared of weeds and grass, waterducts scavenged and opened and welcome arches bedecked with flowers erected all over the city. True to their routine, PWD (B&R), Sonepat Municipal Council and Public Health Department employees have been working overtime for the past couple of days to spruce up the roads which are to be used by the motorcade of the Chief Minister. Office-bearers of the Residents Welfare Association and the Sonepat Citizens Welfare Forum commented that whereas the inner lanes and roads were littered with garbage and mud and the roads in a state of disrepair with choked sewers overflowing, only those roads and areas had been given a facelift which were to be used by the Chief Minister on his visit. They suggested that the Chief Minister take a detour and pay a surprise visit to the areas not on his itinerary to see the true state of affairs. |
DHBVN
takes steps to check power thefts HISAR, Aug 2 — The Dakshin Haryana
Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) has decided to get cases registered against
those consumers who are caught stealing power and fail to deposit
their bills and fine within 48 hours of the detection of theft. A
spokesman of the nigam said here today that in July as many as 1,500
cases of power theft were detected in Sirsa, Fatehaba, Hisar, Bhiwani,
Rewari, Gurgaon and Faridabad districts. A fine of Rs 81 lakh was
imposed of which Rs 34 lakh had already been recovered. |
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